Oil seal apparatus and blower comprising the same

ABSTRACT

An oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same are disclosed. The oil seal apparatus and the blower can assemble a body pipe quickly regardless of assembling direction of the body pipe when assembling the body pipe by forming a plurality of oil return holes, i.e., forming more than four or five oil return holes at upper portion, lower portion, left portion, and right portion of an outboard surface of the body pipe. The oil seal apparatus may be mounted in a shaft through-hole formed at an oil box of a blower. The oil seal apparatus may include: a body pipe mounted on a rotation shaft penetrating through the shaft through-hole and provided with a step portion formed at an exterior circumference of the body pipe; at least one collecting groove for collecting oil which is formed at an interior circumference of the body pipe; and more than four oil return holes evenly spaced from each other, formed at the body pipe slantedly from an inboard side to an outboard side, and communicating with the collecting groove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0155925 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 06, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same that can assemble a body pipe quickly regardless of assembling direction of the body pipe when assembling the body pipe by forming a plurality of oil return holes, i.e., forming more than four or five oil return holes at upper portion, lower portion, left portion, and right portion of an outboard surface of the body pipe.

(b) Description of the Related Art

Generally, a blower (high-pressure blower) mounted in a thermoelectric power plant generates a large amount of compressed air. In other words, a blower mounted in a thermoelectric power plant includes a pair of screw-type rotating members engaged with each other and generates a large amount of compressed air by rotating the pair of screw-type rotating members in high speed.

The present invention improves a blower mounted in a conventional power plant. Firstly, “a bearing Babbit bushing applicable to a high-pressure blower and the high-pressure blower using the same” (hereinafter, it will be called a “conventional high-pressure blower”.) that was filed and registered as Korean patent number 1342569 will be described.

The conventional high-pressure blower includes a housing, an oil box mounted at one side of the housing and storing oil therein, a rotating portion rotatably mounted in the housing, a rotation shaft of the rotating portion, and a connecting shaft mounted in the oil box and maintaining a distance between bearings.

In addition, the conventional high-pressure blower has a hollow cylindrical shape and further includes a bearing Babbit bushing (hereinafter, it will be called a “bearing bushing”) which encloses exterior circumference of the connecting shaft penetrating through a first side oil box hole and prevents leakage of the oil from the oil box when the connecting shaft is mounted in the first side oil box hole formed at a first side of the oil box among sides of the oil box that contacts with the housing. The bearing bushing includes a main body portion enclosing the exterior circumference of the connecting shaft and having a hollow cylindrical shape, an oil collecting hole enabling of collecting the oil flowing into along an interior circumference of the main body portion, and at least five oil return holes formed at a lower end of a first side of the main body portion that contacts with the first side of the oil box, penetrating through the first side of the main body portion and connected with the oil collecting hole.

However, when the bearing bushing of the conventional high-pressure blower having the above-mentioned structures is assembled, following problems occur.

When the bearing bushing of the conventional high-pressure blower is assembled, the oil return holes are precisely positioned at the lowest position. That is, the bearing bushing is precisely assembled. Therefore, assembling time of the bearing bushing may be long.

In addition, when the bearing bushing is assembled, the oil return holes are precisely positioned at the lowest position. However, since the bearing bushing is assembled manually, defective assembling of the bearing bushing may often occur. Therefore, the bearing bushing is disassembled, and then is assembled again.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Number 1342569, “a bearing Babbit bushing applicable to a high-pressure blower and the high-pressure blower using the same” (2013.12.11.) The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same having advantages of assembling a body pipe quickly regardless of assembling direction of the body pipe when assembling the body pipe by forming a plurality of oil return holes, i.e., forming more than four or five oil return holes at upper portion, lower portion, left portion, and right portion of an outboard surface of the body pipe.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same having further advantages of improving flow of oil by additionally forming a spiral groove causing the oil to flow to a collecting groove smoothly at an exterior circumference of a bearing spacer disposed between the body pipe and a rotation shaft.

Yet, another embodiment of the present invention provides an oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same having further advantages of preventing inflow of the leaked oil into a housing when a large amount of oil is returned by additionally forming a staying groove of a circular arc shape at the outboard surface of the body pipe such that the oil stays in the staying groove when the large amount of oil is returned.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention provides an oil seal apparatus and a blower including the same having further advantages of preventing inflow of the leaked oil into the housing when the large amount of oil is returned by additionally forming a plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes at the outer portion of the body pipe such that the oil passes through the auxiliary oil drain holes when the large amount of oil is returned.

An oil seal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be mounted in a shaft through-hole formed at an oil box of a blower. The oil seal apparatus may include: a body pipe mounted on a rotation shaft penetrating through the shaft through-hole and provided with a step portion formed at an exterior circumference of the body pipe; at least one collecting groove for collecting oil which is formed at an interior circumference of the body pipe; and more than four oil return holes evenly spaced from each other, formed at the body pipe slantedly from an inboard side to an outboard side, and communicating with the collecting groove.

The oil seal apparatus may further include a bearing spacer mounted between the body pipe and the rotation shaft, wherein a spiral groove is formed on an interior circumference of the bearing spacer contacting with the body pipe and causes the oil to flow therethrough.

A staying groove of circular arc may be formed at an outboard surface of the body pipe and may be fluidly communicated with each oil return hole such that the returned oil stays temporarily in the staying groove.

A plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes may be formed radially to communicate each oil return hole with the exterior circumference of the body pipe, wherein a diameter of the auxiliary oil drain hole is smaller than that of the oil return hole.

A blower according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a housing; an oil box provided at an outboard side of the housing, fluidly communicating with the housing through two shaft through-holes, and filled with oil; two rotation shafts wherein each of the two rotation shafts is inserted in each of the two shaft through-holes, a pumping blade is provided on a portion of the housing where each rotation shaft is positioned, and a bearing is provided on a portion of the oil box where each rotation shaft is positioned; and an oil seal apparatus including a body pipe insertedly mounted in each shaft through-hole, mounted on each rotation shaft, and provided with a step portion formed at an exterior circumference of the body pipe, at least one collecting groove for collecting the oil which is formed at an interior circumference of the body pipe, and more than four oil return holes evenly space from each other, slanted in a radial outward direction from an inboard side to an outboard side of the body pipe, and communicating with the at least one collecting groove.

The blower may further include a bearing spacer mounted between the body pipe and the rotation shaft, wherein a spiral groove is formed on an interior circumference of the bearing spacer contacting with the body pipe and causes the oil to flow therethrough.

An outboard surface of the body pipe may closely contact with an inboard surface of an inner ring of the bearing, wherein a staying groove of circular arc is formed at an outboard surface of the body pipe and is fluidly communicated with each oil return hole such that the returned oil stays temporarily in the staying groove.

A plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes may be formed radially to communicate each oil return hole with the exterior circumference of the body pipe, wherein a diameter of the auxiliary oil drain hole is smaller than that of the oil return hole.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a body pipe may be assembled quickly regardless of assembling direction of the body pipe when assembling the body pipe by forming a plurality of oil return holes, i.e., forming more than four or five oil return holes at upper portion, lower portion, left portion, and right portion of an outboard surface of the body pipe. Therefore, assembling time of the oil seal apparatus can be minimized and defective assembling of the body pipe can be prevented.

In addition, since the spiral groove causing the oil to flow smoothly toward the collecting grooves is formed at the exterior circumference of the bearing spacer mounted between the body pipe and the rotation shaft according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, oil return performance may be improved. Therefore, the oil seal apparatus having excellent sealing effects may be provided.

In addition, since a staying groove of a circular arc shape is additionally formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe such that the oil stays in the staying groove when the large amount of oil is returned according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, inflow of the leaked oil into the housing may be prevented when a large amount of oil is returned.

In addition, since a plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes are additionally formed at the outer portion of the body pipe such that the oil passes through the auxiliary oil drain holes when the large amount of oil is returned according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, inflow of the leaked oil into the housing may be prevented when the large amount of oil is returned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a blower in which an oil seal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of ‘A’ portion in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the oil seal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line ‘B-B’ in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the bearing spacer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the bearing spacer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an oil seal apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an oil seal apparatus according to other exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

 1: oil seal apparatus  11: body pipe 111: step portion  12: collecting groove  13: oil return hole  16: bearing spacer  14: staying groove of circular arc  2: blower  15: auxiliary oil drain hole  22: oil box 161: spiral groove  23: rotation shaft  21: housing 232: bearing 221: shaft through-hole 231: pumping blade

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a blower in which an oil seal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of ‘A’ portion in FIG. 1. In addition, FIG. 3A is a side view of the oil seal apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line ‘B-B’ in FIG. 3A. Further, FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the bearing spacer according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the bearing spacer. In addition, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an oil seal apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an oil seal apparatus according to other exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, an oil seal apparatus 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention is mounted in a shaft through-hole 221 formed at an oil box 22 of a blower 2 and seals an exterior circumference of a rotation shaft 23 so as to prevent oil from being discharged through a bearing 232.

The oil seal apparatus 1 includes a body pipe 11 mounted on the rotation shaft 23 penetrating through the shaft through-hole, at least one collecting groove 12 formed at an interior circumference of the body pipe 11, and a plurality of oil return holes 13 concavely formed at an outboard surface of the body pipe 11.

The body pipe 11 is insertedly mounted in the shaft through-hole 221. A step portion 111 is formed at an exterior circumference of the body pipe 11 and abuts against the shaft through-hole 221.

The at least one collecting groove 12 is formed at the interior circumference of the body pipe 11. If more than two collecting grooves 12 are formed, the more than two collecting grooves are spaced from each other in an axial direction. The collecting groove 12 is arranged to collect oil discharged along the exterior circumference of the rotation shaft 23 or an exterior circumference of a bearing spacer in the oil box 22. It is illustrated in the attached drawings, two collecting grooves are formed.

A plurality of tab hole T is additionally formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe 11.

The plurality of oil return holes 13 are evenly formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe 11 facing the oil box 22 and are communicated with the collecting groove 12. The oil return hole 13 sends the oil collected by the collecting groove 12 back to the oil box 22. The oil return hole 13 is slanted from an inboard side to an outboard side of the body pipe 11 so as to smoothly send the oil in the oil return hole 13 toward the oil box 22.

Four or five oil return holes 13 are evenly formed at upper portion, lower portion, left portion and right portion of the outboard surface of the body pipe 11 such that the body pipe 11 can be assembled quickly regardless of assembling direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, at least one staying groove 14 of circular arc shape is formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe 11. Each staying groove 14 is communicated with each oil return hole 13 such that the oil returning through the oil return hole 13 stays temporarily in the staying groove 14. A cross-sectional of each staying groove 14 of circular arc has semi-circular shape so as to prevent residual oil.

As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes 15 is formed in a radial direction to communicate each oil return hole 13 with the exterior circumference of the body pipe 11 such that the oil is prevented to flowing into a housing 21 when a large amount of oil is returned.

A diameter of the auxiliary oil drain hole 15 is smaller than that of the oil return hole 13 such that the oil blocks the auxiliary oil drain hole 15 if a small amount of oil is returned but the oil passes and is discharged through the auxiliary oil drain hole 15 if the large amount of is returned and pressure is formed by the oil. That is, the diameter of auxiliary oil drain hole 15 is smaller than a third of the diameter of the oil return hole 13.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the oil seal apparatus 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention further includes the bearing spacer 16 of cylindrical shape mounted between the body pipe 11 and the rotation shaft 23. In addition, a spiral groove 161 is formed at an exterior circumference of the bearing spacer 16 closely contacting with the body pipe 11. The spiral groove 16 causes the oil to flow smoothly toward the collecting groove 12, thereby improving oil return performance.

A blower provided with the oil seal apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described.

The blower 2 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6, includes the housing 21, the oil box 22 provided at the outboard side of the housing 21, communicated with two shaft through-holes 221, and filled with the oil, two rotation shafts 23 inserted respectively in two shaft through-holes 221, and the oil seal apparatus 1 inserted mounted in each shaft through-hole 221 and mounted on an exterior circumference of the rotation shaft 23.

A pumping blade 231 is provided on a portion of the housing 21 where each rotation shaft 23 is positioned, and a bearing 232 is provided on a portion of the oil box 22 where each rotation shaft 23 is positioned.

The oil seal apparatus 1 is the same as the oil seal apparatus 1 which is described above and includes the body pipe 11 mounted on the exterior circumference of the rotation shaft 23 and provided with the step portion 111 formed at an outboard surface of the exterior circumference of the body pipe 11.

One or a plurality of collecting grooves 12 for collecting the oil are formed at the interior circumference of the body pipe 11. More than four oil return holes 13 are formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe 11 and are communicated with the collecting grooves 12. The oil holes 13 are evenly spaced from each other and are slanted in a radial outward direction from the inboard side to the outboard side.

The outboard surface of the body pipe 11 closely contacts with an inboard surface of an inner ring of the bearing 232 such that the oil discharged from the bearing 232 is returned and collected. As described above, the staying groove 14 of circular arc 14 is formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe 11. The staying groove 14 is communicated with each oil return hole 13 such that the returned oil stays temporarily in the staying groove 14.

Since the staying groove 14 of circular arc is formed at the outboard surface of the body pipe 11, the oil temporarily stays in the staying groove 14 of circular arc when the large amount of oil is returned. Therefore, the returned oil is prevented from flowing into the housing 21 when the large amount of oil is returned.

As described above, a plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes 15 having smaller diameter are formed radially from each oil return hole 13 to the exterior circumference of the body pipe 11.

Since the plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes 15 which communicate each oil return hole 13 with to the exterior circumference of the body pipe 11 are formed according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the oil flows through the auxiliary oil drain holes 15 when the large amount of oil is returned. Therefore, the returned oil is prevented from flowing into the housing 21 when the large amount of oil is returned.

As described above, the bearing spacer 16 is additionally mounted between the body pipe 11 and the rotation shaft 23. In addition, the spiral groove 161 is further formed on the exterior circumference of the bearing spacer 16 closely contacting with the body pipe 11.

Since the spiral groove 161 causing the oil to flow smoothly toward the collecting grooves 12 is formed at the exterior circumference of the bearing spacer 16 mounted between the body pipe 11 and the rotation shaft 23 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, oil return performance may be improved.

Since four or five oil return holes 13 are formed at upper portion, lower portion, left portion, and right portion of an outboard surface of the body pipe 11 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the body pipe 11 can be quickly assembled regardless of the assembling direction of the body pipe 11 when assembling the body pipe 11. Since the body pipe 11 can be quickly assembled regardless of the assembling direction of the body pipe 11 when assembling the body pipe 11 according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, assembling time of the oil seal apparatus 1 can be minimized and defective assembling of the body pipe 11 can be prevented.

The foregoing description has been directed to embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, that other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. Accordingly, this description is to be taken only by way of example and not to otherwise limit the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the embodiments herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An oil seal apparatus which is mounted in a shaft through-hole formed at an oil box of a blower, the oil seal apparatus comprising: a body pipe mounted on a rotation shaft penetrating through the shaft through-hole and provided with a step portion formed at an exterior circumference of the body pipe; at least one collecting groove for collecting oil which is formed at an interior circumference of the body pipe; and more than four oil return holes evenly spaced from each other, formed at the body pipe slantedly from an inboard side to an outboard side, and communicating with the collecting groove.
 2. The oil seal apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bearing spacer mounted between the body pipe and the rotation shaft, and wherein a spiral groove is formed on an interior circumference of the bearing spacer contacting with the body pipe and causes the oil to flow therethrough.
 3. The oil seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a staying groove of circular arc is formed at an outboard surface of the body pipe and is fluidly communicated with each oil return hole such that the returned oil stays temporarily in the staying groove.
 4. The oil seal apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes are formed radially to communicate each oil return hole with the exterior circumference of the body pipe, and wherein a diameter of the auxiliary oil drain hole is smaller than that of the oil return hole.
 5. A blower comprising: a housing; an oil box provided at an outboard side of the housing, fluidly communicating with the housing through two shaft through-holes, and filled with oil; two rotation shafts wherein each of the two rotation shafts is inserted in each of the two shaft through-holes, a pumping blade is provided on a portion of the housing where each rotation shaft is positioned, and a bearing is provided on a portion of the oil box where each rotation shaft is positioned; and an oil seal apparatus including a body pipe insertedly mounted in each shaft through-hole, mounted on each rotation shaft, and provided with a step portion formed at an exterior circumference of the body pipe, at least one collecting groove for collecting the oil which is formed at an interior circumference of the body pipe, and more than four oil return holes evenly space from each other, slanted in a radial outward direction from an inboard side to an outboard side of the body pipe, and communicating with the at least one collecting groove.
 6. The blower of claim 5, further comprising a bearing spacer mounted between the body pipe and the rotation shaft, and wherein a spiral groove is formed on an interior circumference of the bearing spacer contacting with the body pipe and causes the oil to flow therethrough.
 7. The blower of claim 5, wherein an outboard surface of the body pipe closely contacts with an inboard surface of an inner ring of the bearing, and wherein a staying groove of circular arc is formed at an outboard surface of the body pipe and is fluidly communicated with each oil return hole such that the returned oil stays temporarily in the staying groove.
 8. The blower of claim 5, wherein a plurality of auxiliary oil drain holes are formed radially to communicate each oil return hole with the exterior circumference of the body pipe, and wherein a diameter of the auxiliary oil drain hole is smaller than that of the oil return hole. 